The Mistletoe Duke by Sabrina York

Author:Sabrina York [York, Sabrina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sabrina York
Published: 2020-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Something strange and wonderful happened the next day.

Meg fully expected to be awakened early by Beth, the chamber maid. She fully expected to spend the day helping the dowager with last-minute disasters and preparations for their guests.

But no one came to wake her up.

When she finally roused, the sun was high in the sky and Susana was sitting in the chair by the window sipping tea. She shot Meg a brilliant smile.

“Oh dear.” Meg swiped the hair from her eyes. “I’ve overslept.”

Susana laughed, a glorious tinkle. “You deserved it. Besides, Mother wants you to be fresh for tonight.”

“Tonight?” she parroted, though she knew the itinerary quite well. Tonight was the welcome party. For the guests. Of which she was now one, apparently.

“The guests have already started arriving,” Susana said. For some reason there was a frown on her beautiful face.

“Have they?”

“Yes.” A snort.

“Susana, darling, whatever is wrong?” Meg knew she should rise from the bed, but it was so warm and comfortable, she just nestled deeper into the down.

“It’s them.”

“Them?”

“The women Mother has invited. I can only assume they are for Jonathan, but seriously, Cicely Peck?”

Yes, Cicely Peck had been on the list of invitations Meg had written. “Do you not like Cicely Peck?”

“Oh, she’s all right, I suppose. But not the sort I want as a sister-in-law.”

“One cannot always choose one’s in-laws.”

“How true that is. But Cicely?”

“Tell me about her.” Cicely hadn’t been around during Meg’s season. She’d probably still been in leading strings then.

“Well, she’s beautiful.”

Lovely. Meg set her hand to her stomach, which, for some reason, had begun to churn.

“And she’s from a good family.”

“Yes. The Pecks.”

“But she’s…”

“What?”

“I don’t know. Reptilian?”

Meg burst out laughing and sat up to eye her friend. “Tell me how you really feel,” she jested.

Susana flushed. “I don’t mean to be petty. There’s just something cold and predatory about her.”

“Jonathan isn’t a fool. He will never choose a woman who isn’t warm and sincere.”

“I know.” Susan sighed. “But women often see things in other women that men miss.”

So true. “Who else is here?”

“The Pickerings arrived early. The Mountbattens and the Evertons right after.” Meg nodded. She remembered those families from her season. “And of course, Jonathan’s friends Mattingly and St. Clare arrived last night.”

“Last night?”

Susana huffed. “Christian was up with them ’til all hours and came to bed sotted with brandy and smelling of cheroots.” She put out a lip. “I made him sleep on the divan.”

“Never say you make your husband sleep on the divan!”

“When he smells of cheroots, I do. I made quite clear this nonsense is not to continue.”

“I’m sure he’ll be on his best behavior, now that the party is underway.”

Susana smiled. “Yes. It is. And I cannot wait to get started on you.”

Meg boggled. “On me?”

“Oh yes, darling. Now get up. We have a lot of work to do before tonight!”

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